Active Activator A

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a new innovated exercise machine comprising a universal exercise machine designed with extreme ergonomic designs with dimensions less than 34 inches square and no high than 6 inches when compacted and a total weight under 60 pounds. The device is cleverly designed for easy and quick break down for storage under the bed, closet or in any corner of any room.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of sporting and athletic goods, and more specifically to the field of personal and rehabilitation exercise equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art has put forth several designs for personal and rehabilitative exercise devices. Among these are:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,960 to William Gvoich and John B. Rogers describes a fluid-type abductor-adductor exercise device designed to exercise the hip and thigh areas.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,440 to John M. Berner, Patricia M Dews and James P. Berner describes an exercise orthosis for leg movement with virtual hip pivot.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,534 to Joseph B. Zagorski and Stephen C. Roy describes a continuous passive motion leg exercise device for rehabilitation of knee, hip and ankle motion after trauma or surgery.

None of these prior art references describe the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the Active Activator A to provide a portable and personal exercise and rehabilitation apparatus which exercises, strengthens and increases the range of motion for hips, legs, knees, abdomen, shoulders and arms.

The present invention provides a new innovated exercise machine called Active Activator A which will explode throughout the world dominating international media. Active Activator A is a universal exercise machine deigned with extreme ergonomic designs with dimensions less than 34 inches square and no high than 6 inches when compacted and a total weight under 60 pounds. The device is cleverly designed for easy and quick break down for storage under the bed, closet or in any corner of any room.

The exercise machine of the present invention is designed with precision crafted light weight durable material. The device aids with reducing weight gain, lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure controlling calcium deposits, controlling osteoporosis controlling diabetes, burning calories, strengthening bone density controlling bone spurs and controlling heart disease, for example.

Important other main advantages of the present invention include enhancing injury recovery for senior citizens, sports injury, upper thigh muscle development, shoulder surgery and hip replacement surgery, for example.

Statistics from The American Medical Journal and the Center for Disease Control conclude that 42% of the United States population will suffer the pain of osteophytes bone spur at some point of their lives. They also stated 78 million senior citizens (baby boomers) will be retiring by the end of the year 2011. One out of six senior citizens will endure hip replacement surgery or reconstructive knee surgery at some time in their lives. The National Center for Health Statistics suggest that the average waistline is 39.7 inches for men and 37 inches for women. They also stated most people after age 40 will lose 1% of muscle mass per year and will lose neurons which control memory due to lack of exercise. These statistics express the vital importance of the Active Activator A exercise machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Contemporary gyms and fitness facilities are truly wonders of human ingenuity and engineering. In the past, running meant going to a track or running on the streets. Now one can go to the gym and run a marathon on a variable speed variable incline treadmill all the while keeping track of the calories burned, heart rate, and rate of respiration. Walking requires going to the gym, picking a treadmill or an elliptical climber, and walking or climbing in ease and precision, even comfort. Bicycles provide great exercise and, in the outside world a self-propelled mode of transportation. In the gym, stationary bikes simulate hill-climbs, level roads, with gearing options available in an air-conditioned room with TV and stereo. Rowing is one of the great cardiovascular workouts. In a decent gym today, anyone seeking a better toned, fitter body can row to their heart's content or their body's limit on a machine that comes as close as a machine can, to duplicating the motion required to propel a boat backwards through the water.

When it comes to all around exercise, a workout that tones and strengthens the major muscle groups, increases strength and stamina and endurance, improves aerobic capacity and cardiovascular health provides tremendous benefits to body and mind, from increased longevity to higher levels of activity, self-esteem and happiness Exercise is considered a key contributor to nearly every category measure of human well-being. Getting started on a rigorous daily exercise regimen must wait on an intervening step: rehabilitation or physical therapy. Patients who have had hip replacements or are suffering from low bone-density brought on by osteopenia or osteoporosis, patients who have had knee surgeries or replacements and others who are too obese or sedentary to jump into an intense cardiovascular program, first require the intermediate step of gradually increasing their strength, reducing their pain, and increasing their range of motion. This is the domain of physical therapy, an extended course which is often prescribed following orthopedic surgery. While physical therapy is the road back to full health, there are two problems which make it less effective. First, most health insurance policies limit the number of physical therapy visits that are covered, to a number far less than the number of sessions required for recovery. Second, to be effective, physical therapy must be done in the PT facility and in the patient's home on a daily basis. At home, the patient lacks the apparatus and equipment found in the therapy facility.

The present invention, hereinafter referred to as the Active Activator A, provides a home therapy and exercise apparatus, designed for the lower body, arms, shoulders and abdomen. The Active Activator A is a compact portable apparatus intended for home use by persons who wish to rehabilitate, strengthen, and improve the range of motion in their hips, knees, and legs, a complete system designed to benefit anyone from the elderly to the post surgical rehabilitant or athlete.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the device of the present invention consists of the following elements:

Base 1, Chair Side or support rod 2, Wheel 3, Brace 4, Back Seat 5, Bottom Seat 6, Leg Bar 7, Leg Bar Cross Beam 8, Bottom Brace 9, Twist Table 10, Leg 11, Arm2 12, Arm1 13, Handles and Yolk 14, Brace Handle 15, Shoulder Damper Body 16, Shoulder Damper Rod 17, Tension Bar 18, Pull Knob 19, Friction Belt 20, and Resistance Band 21.

The Active Activator A has a platform or base 1 for the user to stand on with a built-in turntable or twist table 10 which turns in a one hundred eighty degree arc against self-resistance. The device has thigh and knee adapters 11 which can be pumped or pushed with a knee or thigh, against resistance provided by resistance band 21. The base 1 of the Active Activator A is approximately twenty-eight inches square and four inches in depth, consisting of two aluminum plates stacked atop one another, and joined to an intervening twenty-inch diameter, bearing-mounted circular turntable or twist table 10. It should be noted that the plates are not fixedly mounted to each other. Through the incorporation of tensioned springs, this turntable resists side rotation to the left and right, allowing up to one hundred eighty degrees of motion when this lateral resistance is overcome. The bottom of the base plate is equipped with a non slip, gripping material for foundational stability. The two plates of the base unit are equipped with sockets or holes. One socket is placed in each of the four corners of the base plate, and nine sockets or holes are placed in the upper plate, with the placement being one centered in front, two near the corners on the back edge: and two rows of three each on top, set in two rows on each side extending from the center toward the rear of the plate. These holes are not shown in the drawing. These mounting holes or sockets are used to anchor support rods and other hardware that will adapt the Active Activator A for a variety of exercises and positions. These adaptations include vertical rods and horizontal bars to support a raised seat. The seat bottom 6 measures approximately two feet in width by eighteen inches in depth, and the seat back 5 measures approximately two feet in height. The support rods are approximately five feet in length and support the seat in a height adjustable manner. The vertical rods are constructed in a telescoping, pipe within pipe design, to promote easy breakdown, storage, and portability of the Active Activator A system. The seat, which is equipped with a stability handle or gripping brace 9, may be used for seated rotational hip-swings similar to the standing exercises for the hips; and the seat can be locked in a stationary position to be used during the various knee and leg exercises. The sockets in the base-plates hold the support rods that anchor a pair of adjustable thigh, knee, and leg exercise adapters. By means of sliding track pin and hole assemblies that mate with the vertical support rod 7, these leg adaptations are designed to adjust in several orientations. The height of the pads can be adjusted, from calf height to knee height to thigh height. The direction of the pads may be changed, so the user can work against resistance with forward leg lifts, side leg lifts, or back leg lifts. For knee exercises, the forward and backward planes are utilized. Not only is the position of the leg resistance pad adjustable for both the user's height and the direction of resistance, but the friction belt 20 and resistance band 21 adjust the degree of resistance, from very light to very strong.

In addition to attachments for lower body exercising, the Active Activator A features several attachments to target areas in the upper body. One shoulder socket attachment 17 comprises left and right turn handles 14 which self lubricate within a ball bearing and turning gear box. Another shoulder socket attachment comprises forward and backward handles 14 which self lubricate within a ball bearing and turning gear box. Both these attachments target the shoulders and arms. An abdominal attachment can be included which comprises a chest strap with four spring cables, two on each side, attached to pole rings and secured by means of pole locking clamps. In a seated position, the user presses their chest against the chest strap and leans forward, working their muscles in the abdominal area thus flattening their stomach.

The entire Active Activator A system is easy to set up, adjust and break down for compact storage and easy portability. The system is constructed of high-strength but lightweight alloys, with non toxic, durable plastic, rubber and synthetic polymeric foam components. It is designed to accommodate users weighing up to 450 pounds. Each Active Activator A will have appropriate decals or stickers noting details of assembly and cautionary warnings. Each system will be accompanied by a full user's manual, guiding the user through everything from set up to a beginning, intermediate, and advanced exercise regime. In an alternative embodiment, the Active Activator A is equipped with a heart rate monitor so the user may monitor their cardiac rate and activity for optimal cardiovascular health and safety.

The Active Activator A is a self contained multi modal exercise and therapy apparatus designed for all body types, ages, and athletic abilities. This equipment device of the present invention presents consumers with a unique and precisely targeted tool for increasing the strength, muscle tone, flexibility, and range of motion of the hips, thighs, knees, calves, arms, shoulders, and abdomen. A lightweight, easily portable system, the Active Activator A offers users a broad spectrum of exercises to strengthen all the major and minor muscle groups of the legs, and to strengthen and increase the range of motion in the hips and knees. The Active Activator A will appeal strongly to persons who have undergone hip or knee replacements or knee surgeries. to athletes who wish to enhance lower-body strength and flexibility, such as golfers and skiers, and to the elderly segment of the population and those at risk of osteoporosis or osteopenia.

Designed for the maximum in adaptability and versatility the Active Activator A system is fabricated of the highest quality, most durable and dependable and lightweight materials, and is equipped with standard features not found on most prior art systems, such as a heart rate monitor and a complete manual to guide the user through progressively advanced programs for using the Activator for a lifetime of lower body health. This compact and portable, highly versatile, eminently affordable device will appreciate an eager and enthusiastic audience.

Although this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and various modifications which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 

1. A portable personal exercise and rehabilitation device comprising: Base, Chair Side or support rods, Wheel, Brace, Back Seat, Bottom Seat, Leg Bar, Leg Bar Cross Beam, Bottom Brace, twist Table, Leg portion, Arm2, Arm1, Handles and Yolk, Brace Handle, Shoulder Damper Body, Shoulder Damper Rod, Tension Bar, Pull Knob, Friction Belt, and Resistance Band.
 2. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the base is used for the user to stand on the base having a twist table which turns in a one hundred eighty degree arc against self-resistance
 3. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the thigh and knee adapters can be pumped or pushed with a knee or thigh, against resistance provided by resistance band.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the base is approximately twenty-eight inches square and four inches in depth, consisting of two aluminum plates stacked atop one another, and joined to an intervening twenty-inch diameter hearing-mounted circular twist table, and wherein the plates are not fixedly mounted to each other, and wherein the bottom of the base plate is equipped with a non slip, gripping material for foundational stability, and the two plates of the base unit are equipped with sockets or holes for attaching vertical members.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the twist table resists side rotation to the left and right, allowing up to one hundred eighty degrees of motion when this lateral resistance is overcome.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the seat bottom measures approximately two feet in width by eighteen inches in depth, and the seat back measures approximately two feet in height.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the chair side or support rods are approximately five feet in length and support the seat in a height adjustable manner and wherein the support rods are constructed in a telescoping, pipe within pipe design, to promote easy breakdown, storage, and portability.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein the seat equipped with a stability handle or gripping brace is capable of being used for seated rotational hip-swings similar to the standing exercises for the hips; and the seat can be locked in a stationary position to be used during the various knee and leg exercises.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the support rods adjustably anchor the leg bar and the leg bar cross beam.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein shoulder damper body and shoulder damper rod comprises handles which self lubricate within a ball bearing and turning gear box. 